Samuel Roy ‘Frosty’ Thomas

Samuel Roy “Frosty” Thomas, 89, of Center Point, passed away at St. Vincent Clay Hospital on Monday, June 14, 2021.

Frosty was born on Oct. 10, 1931 in Clay County, the son of Samuel and Lucille (Cade) Thomas.

He graduated from Bowling Green High School with the class of 1950. Following high school he made ice cream at Nance’s Creamery in Brazil.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952. He served as a control tower operator for four years, four months and 23 days, then in the reserves for eight years. At Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, he found that he could have his family with him, so he returned home on leave by hopping military plane rides.

He, his wife and 11-month-old daughter drove 3,800 miles over limestone in a 1950 Dodge back to Anchorage, taking them 10 days and costing $220 for the trip. They lived there almost two years and drove the same car back home, bringing their two-and-a-half-year-old and another 11-month-old daughter.

As a civilian, Frosty worked at IBM in Greencastle for 25 years as a printing press operator and as a parts analyst for five years, retiring in 1987 when the plant closed.

He had a wonderful dry sense of humor. He greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycles from age 15 until age 80. His favorite phrase was, “I’m proud of my family.”

Frosty was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Lucille Thomas; son Warren Thomas; sister Ellen Hedrick; and brother Fred Thomas.

Frosty is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carolyn Thomas; daughters Joyce Drake (Tom), Dr. Shirley Thomas (Doug Marshall) and Colleen Hubbard (Ted); son Norman Thomas (Susie); grandchildren Chris Drake, Stacie Feltz, Travis Drake, Killian Adams, James Thomas, Whitney Setar, KJ Thomas, Mike Thomas, Samantha Thomas and Steven Thomas; great-grandchildren Andrew Drake, Evan Drake, Grace Feltz, Jack Feltz, Shay Drake and Delilah Drake; a sister, Mary Jo Steiner (Vic); as well as many extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be at Lawson-Miller Chapel, 1702 E. National Ave., Brazil, on Friday, June 18 from 4-8 p.m. Services will be at the funeral home on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Brad Hindsley officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Bowling Green.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bowling Green United Methodist Church, designated to church missions, P.O. Box 42, Bowling Green, IN 47833.